PC Cooling

[Erez]

i'll start with this.. i know Nothing about PC cooling..
and now this is a reall issue for me.. as you know its not very cold over here.. and my prescott works now with nothing on at about 65C!! and my 9600XT (yeah still.. i need a X850XT AGP shipped from the US or something.. :? ) gets hooot too.. so hot that sometimes my screen gets like turned off while im gaming and when it turns on again i see nothing but black.. :? as for the CPU some times my OC will restart itself!

not i looked over some water cooling.. but i have NO idea how it works so i dont know what parts i need and what means what..
i would appreciate any info on what i need.. how much should it cost.. anything.. past experience tells too :) and what to stay away from.. (is there other solutions then water cooling? any good? )

Thanks a million!!

[Jabba]

A crude but only temp setup that got me over 4 ghz from a prescott 3.2.

Cheap pastic bucket full of water, pump, tubing and water block...no more than £50.

http://www.jabbasworld.net/userfiles/jabba/jpics/50.JPG
http://www.jabbasworld.net/userfiles/jabba/jpics/51.JPG

[Erez]

thanks for the info! and i'm talking about the those tmp without any OCing!! :shock: (i need new silver thingy between the CPU and the heatsink.. is it also needed with the water cooling setup?)

and are pump, tubing and water block all i need to get this up and running? cause on some site i saw some fans.. and a radiator and it all started to look much more complicated.. and i couldn't find a page that says how to water cooling works..

and thanks again!

[Jabba]

Yep the stuff that goes in between the cpu and heatsink is to aid the transfer of heat to the waterblock (it fills in the air gap) I presume you mean artic silver and its pretty good stuff.

You will need to put a radiator which has a fan on it in the loop unless you are going to use a lot of water and have that positioned outside in a cold climate or something..which I guess is not an option for you...

The radiator and fan isn't complicated it just sits in between the pump and waterblock and cools that water as it passes through it...exactly the same way as a radiator cools a car.

http://www.jabbasworld.net/userfiles/jabba/jpics/52.jpg
http://www.jabbasworld.net/userfiles/jabba/jpics/53.jpg

[Erez]

:lol: cold climate is not an option for me.. thats for sure..

no i checked some prices over here (yep damn taxes again..) and lets see-
artic silver 5 12g - £12.38
Thermaltake CL-W0005 BIG WATER (from what i got its not what you would call good) - £61.92

so i've been reading alot now about water cooling and build ups and what not..
and the good parts like Swiftech Storm, Thermochill PA160 and AQX 50z pump dont come cheap! so i dont want to build something over the top as that, that would cost me too much with no need.. i need something not crappy.. that will work.. good..

any ideas of what temps should i expect? any parts recommendations?

BTW- :shock: HOLY CRAP @ your setup! amazing!

[Jabba]

These are good little pumps

http://www.overclock.co.uk/customer/product.php?productid=17131

and the rad to go with it

http://www.overclock.co.uk/customer/product.php?productid=17129

The prices you have to pay sure do suck though.

I was seeing around the 40's mark with my prescott at full load...


btw have gone back to phase cooling now (-20 full load)...just finished the re-build in fact.

http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/1.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/3.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/4.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/5.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/6.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/7.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/8.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/9.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/10.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/11.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/12.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/13.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/14.JPG
http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/pluto/15.JPG

[Erez]

:) nice work!
why dont you stick with the phase cooling?

[Jabba]

I had problems with it before...as anything that is -25 can lead to condensation issues...and this indeed did happen..and destroyed just under a £1,000 worth of video cards...plus a p4 3.2 and 3.4 northwood.

Since those days the clamshell (heat sink if you like) has been greatly improved due to these problems and with some other mods I am now confident to try it again...if things carry on the way they are now...then I will be sticking with it... yes...

[Erez]

you had warranty right?
a.. and as usual.. no site is shipping over here.. and we dont have a dealer.. so it would be hard to find.. :?

i think i'll have to arrange a big shipping from abroad somehow, i was sure only the X850XT would be a prob.. (they want £495.96 for it!!)

as soon as the hollyday ends i'll go check some store.. hope i could find something.. (i'll get the artic silver for sure cause its not that bad and i need it ASAP!)

thanks for all the help jabba! hope i'll find a way to get what i need!
and good luck with the phase cooling! hope it will work without a prob this time!

[Jabba]

nope no warranty on these sort of things sadly...I just had to swallow it and put it down to a painful experience I am afraid :|

I am sure you would be at least able to find a pump...try aquatic stores and also for the tubing..thats where I got my eheim pump from...

[Erez]

:? very unpleasant...

did the pump and whole water cooling worked fine for you? cause people said a pump should be of certain specs ( i dont remember at the moment..) and that a good water block is very importent (i'm sure i could find blocks.. just dont know what would be a bad one..) and a rad would be tricky too..

[Jabba]

I went for the low volume ones (700 lhr)..less heat, less pressure (no leaks on your connections) and gives the water a better chance of cooling down as it slowly passes through the radiator..also near silent operation.

I think it depends on what performance you are looking for...getting the right block will be more critical when you are seeking the big overclocks.

Yes they are a lot of fun and didn't have many major problems..and very quiet as well.

[Jabba]

Water Cooled thread btw

http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?t=19842&start=0

http://www.zen62132.zen.co.uk/fin/14.jpg

[Erez]

great info about the pump! now the only prob is a rad.. what did you use?
and i found these blocks for sale here- Zalman ZM-WB2 and ZALMAN ZM-GWB2 both for about £34.60 are they any good?

[Jabba]

I havent heard any bad things about them...but if I was going to do it again I would love to see what this is like

http://www.overclock.co.uk/customer/product.php?productid=18707

These are the rads I used :

http://www.overclock.co.uk/customer/product.php?productid=17497

Have you thought about getting some stuff off e-bay ?

[Erez]

na.. the shipping of one thing over here is way overpriced.. if i'll buy abroad it will be a big one.. like the whole water sys and the X850XT and maybe even a chip for my PS2 (in the base.. passes the time ;) even this.. the chip here.. £84!! ) and have them all shoved in a box and pay the shipping for that..

BTW- the Swiftech STORM is the one i wanted.. but i couldn't find one online over here.. i hope i'll have a better luck in the stores.. (it will cost like £80 here i'm sure :) )

[Jabba]

Yep makes sense...and is what I do if I am having something shipped from the US...

[Erez]

its not only the prices.. 99% of online stores dont even ship here.. i can feel the love.. :roll:

[Jabba]

Yeh...it sucks big time...

[Erez]

:? who helps you out with the US shipping (if you dont mind me asking..)

[Jabba]

I only use Fed Ex...I can see the plane fly right past my office window and then get my items either later that day or first thing the next morning.

[Erez]

can you buy a few things and have them put it in one box :?:

[Jabba]

What I did last Xmas was....order a load of things in the US and have them sent to fishfreaks house (other JW admin) he then kindly put them all in one big box and sent them fed ex to me.

[Erez]

yeah thats what i meant.. who helped you out with that.. hmm.. now i need to find someone who's willing..

thanks alot jabba!!! from knowing nothing.. i got a pretty good idea what's what now.. hope i'll work things out.. pics WILL be posted ;)
Thanks a lot! and good luck with everything man..
0X

[Erez]

so i got the water cooling up and running.. 40C and 50 @ load.. i'm happy for now :) upgrades to the water cooling sys might come later on.. if needed.. (unbelievable how hard it was to find here :shock: its still very NON mainstream here.. no one knew what i'm on about.. so i had to make do with what i could find.. the thermaltake bigwater SE.. pics later? had tons of fun putting it together i have to say :D ) first part to be upgraded is the pump for sure..

[Jabba]

Glad you got it sorted out...and yeh its always good fun...any pics ?

[Erez]

yep.. will post them soon ;)

[Erez]

pics -
http://img419.imageshack.us/img419/4193/img41464zd.th.jpg (http://img419.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img41464zd.jpg) http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5109/img41507um.th.jpg (http://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img41507um.jpg) http://img426.imageshack.us/img426/2257/img41510hn.th.jpg (http://img426.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img41510hn.jpg) http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/4387/IMG_4153.th.jpg (http://img414.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_4153.jpg) http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/6576/IMG_4155.th.jpg (http://img414.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_4155.jpg) http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/1324/IMG_4159.th.jpg (http://img414.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_4159.jpg) http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/646/IMG_4168.th.jpg (http://img414.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_4168.jpg) http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/5796/IMG_4162.th.jpg (http://img414.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_4162.jpg) http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/6642/IMG_4165.th.jpg (http://img414.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_4165.jpg) http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/9899/IMG_4169.th.jpg (http://img414.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_4169.jpg) http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/1416/IMG_4170.th.jpg (http://img414.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_4170.jpg) http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/7641/IMG_4163.th.jpg (http://img414.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_4163.jpg)

[Jabba]

Thats really nice...whats the noise level like and is that liquid UV reactive ?

What are your final thoughts...was it worth all the hassle and cost ?

BTW does it allow the computer to start up without the pump running or are there any safety cut out features to protect the cpu ?

[Erez]

well the one thing i didn't take in mind when looking for into watercooling was the noise.. i knew it will be low but that wasn't my first concern.. the pump is very silent.. unless i put my head on the case i dont hear a thing.. but i didn't take it into account my PC will sound (when i try..) like an aquarium :lol: first run was funny as hell!! there is a fan speed controller for the 120 fan on the rad.. unless its at top rpm (no need really..) its completely silent as well.
as for the price.. as i said before the taxes here suuuuuuucks.. but i found this kit at 2 places one near me and one very far away (4 hours drive..) and since i dont have to much free time (and fuel would cost.. well..) i bought it in the place near me.. the far away store offered it at 67.56 GBP (cheap!! i couldn't belive it.. as prices abroad seemed the same!) the place near me asked for 86.11 GBP and i got him down in 10 sec into 73.82 GBP.. said ah.. i dont have time to look.. he was a nice chap.. i said what the hell.. got the kit 2 days later..
as for the UV the pipes are UV sensitive too.. (and i could see it even under the light.. but since i dont have an lights other then the led in the water block\pump.. i cant really tell.. maybe i'll do some case moding later who knows..
as for the PC starting without the pump working... i'm not sure.. :? i'll find out..

as for now.. i'm pretty happy with it..

*and i'll say it again.. i had SO MUCH fun putting it together!!
edit-
http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/1416/IMG_4170.jpg if you look closely in this pic.. you could see the UV liquid glowing in the water block.. so i guess it works and i just need to add some led for the pipes to glow..

[Jabba]

Yep that would be cool...if there are no safety cuts outs...then I guess you will have to make sure that pump is always running as you wont want to fry your cpu. I am glad it all worked out for you :D

[Erez]

thanks, and thanks for all the help jabba.. :good:

[Overmind]

well if you don't like it hot, just don't buy an intel :).

[Erez]

well its a 2+ yr old PC.. and i'm not looking for a new pc.. (even that now its seems i would need one.. as my pc is crap... :? )